New Delhi, 23 October (H.S.):

Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare J.P. Nadda on Friday reviewed healthcare services, patient facilities, medical education, research activities and infrastructure development at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences (ABVIMS) and Dr Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital in New Delhi. During the review, he emphasised strengthening digital healthcare services, prioritising the mental well-being of students and faculty members, improving cleanliness and expediting the disposal of pending matters.

According to data presented during the review meeting, RML Hospital recorded 1.94 million outpatient department (OPD) visits in 2025. During the same period, more than 82,500 patients were admitted, while over 96,600 surgeries and other medical procedures were performed. The hospital currently operates 30 clinical departments and eight pre-clinical and para-clinical departments catering to various aspects of patient care and medical education.

In 2025, RML Hospital secured full accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH), becoming the first central government multispecialty hospital to achieve this distinction, according to the report.

The hospital has strengthened its registration and initial patient-screening processes to improve the quality of treatment. Other measures include clinical and prescription audits, reporting of medical incidents, monitoring of adverse drug reactions and systems for collecting patient feedback.

To facilitate access to treatment under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), the hospital has increased the number of dedicated scheme kiosks from one to three. The number of pre-authorisation requests under the scheme rose from 549 in 2022 to 1,516 in 2025.

Emphasis on strengthening digital healthcare

During the review, Nadda stressed the effective implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) at the hospital. He underscored the need to ensure compliance with digital health standards and encourage the wider adoption of electronic prescriptions and other digital healthcare services.

He observed that the effective use of digital technology could improve patient convenience and strengthen the delivery of healthcare services.

The minister also advised healthcare institutions to draw upon the experience and best practices of leading medical institutions while planning large-scale healthcare infrastructure projects.

Focus on the mental well-being of students and faculty

Nadda emphasised the need to prioritise the mental health of students and faculty members in medical institutions. He noted that academic pressure and professional responsibilities could affect mental well-being, making supportive institutional environments, open communication and continuous access to mental health assistance essential.

The meeting was informed that the hospital had arrangements for regular mental health screening of students and health check-ups for faculty members.

Nadda also encouraged the implementation of Project Saarthi at the institution, describing it as an important step towards supporting the well-being of the academic community.

Review of cleanliness and pending matters

The Union Health Minister reviewed activities being undertaken at the hospital under Special Campaign 6. He stressed that cleanliness should become an integral part of institutional functioning and called for reducing pending matters and improving records management.

He also underlined the importance of maintaining a clean, safe and patient-friendly hospital environment.

The meeting further reviewed the institution's research activities and academic contributions. More than 2,200 research papers have been published by the institution to date, according to the information presented.

Future roadmap aligned with Viksit Bharat 2047

Looking ahead to the goal of Viksit Bharat 2047, the hospital's future plans include expanding digital and patient-centric healthcare services, strengthening specialised medical facilities, extending community outreach through satellite clinics, introducing artificial intelligence-based monitoring and developing environmentally sustainable healthcare infrastructure.

The review meeting was attended by Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava; Director General of Health Services L.G. Krishna; Joint Secretary G.S. Chitra; ABVIMS and RML Hospital Director Dr Akhilandeshwari Prasad; Medical Superintendent Dr (Prof.) Vivek Dewan; and other hospital officials and faculty members.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar